6 Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar on Natural Hair

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has long been used as a natural hair care product to promote healthy hair in both men and woman. Its acidity is close to that of natural hair, it’s a good conditioner and cleaning agent and it’s also an effective germ killer.

1. Vinegar Hair Rinse

Hair is on the mildly acidic side of the pH scale and has an ideal pH of 4.5 to 5.5, which is close to that of an apple cider vinegar rinse (pH 2.9).

On the other hand, many of the hair care products we use, such as soap-based shampoos, bleaches, hair colors, and permanents are strongly alkaline.

Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove the buildup that can result from the use of these styling products and inexpensive shampoos.

Rinsing will also close the numerous cuticle scales which cover and protect the surface of each hair shaft. This imparts a smoother surface which reflects more light and as a result leaves your hair shinier, smoother and easier to manage.

Don’t worry about the slight vinegar smell you will notice after rinsing. It will disappear completely as your hair dries.

Make your own healthy after-shampoo hair rinse by mixing 1/3 of a cup (75 ml) of ACV into a quart (1 liter) of water. You can then store this mixture in a plastic bottle and keep it in the shower for ready use.

If you would like to prepare a smaller batch of this vinegar hair rinse recipe to experiment with, try mixing 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of apple cider vinegar into 1 cup (250 ml) of warm filtered tap water.

Apply the vinegar rinse after shampooing and then rinse it all out, or for extra conditioning, you can leave the rinse on your hair. This natural hair care product can be used once or twice a week or more often as needed.

2. Hair Herbal Rinse

By infusing various herbs into the vinegar rinse, you can enhance different hair colors and condition hair at the same time.

If preparing a vinegar/herb infusion is not your cup of tea, then a faster way to enhance the hair conditioning effect of apple cider vinegar is to add a small amount of certain types of essential oils.

To make a batch, just add 5 drops of the essential oil to 1 cup (250 ml) of apple cider vinegar. When you are ready to rinse your hair, take 1 tablespoon of this mixture and add it to 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water.

4. Dandruff and Itchy Scalp Relief

The acids and enzymes in ACV kill the “bottle bacillus”, a bacteria that is one of the causes for many scalp and hair conditions such as dandruff, itchy scalp, hair loss and often baldness.The bacteria clogs hair follicles allowing dry crusts to form that itch and flake.

For a simple home treatment for dandruff and itchy scalp, apply full strength ACV to the scalp, rub in, and leave on for a half hour to an hour before washing your hair.

5. Natural Hair Loss Treatment

For bald and thinning areas apply to scalp an hour before shampooing- 2 Tbsp ACV mixed with a tiny pinch cayenne powder.
Then before going to bed, mix a royal jelly capsule with one tsp ACV, pat on bald areas and leave overnight.

The following herbs have also been used to prevent hair loss and stimulate hair growth:

Make your own vinegar mixture as per the herbal hair rinse recipe given above and apply it full strength to the scalp. Rub it in and leave it on for a half hour to an hour before washing your hair.

6. Home Remedy for Head Lice

Lice infestations are very contagious and are characterized by intense itching caused by an allergic reaction to a toxin in the saliva of the lice.

If you find that commercial lice preparations are too toxic (many contain pesticides) for you or your child’s skin, try the following herbal head louse treatment described in the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine that uses all natural hair care products:

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In the United States, the difference between apple juice and cider is not well established. Some states do specify a difference. For example, according to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, “Apple juice and apple cider are both fruit beverages made from apples, but there is a difference between the two…”..*

[…] Now, when it comes to my hair…I use Apple Cider Vinegar every week, along with Terressentials Pure Earth Hair Wash. In the past, I would mix the clay wash with water in a bowl before applying to my scalp/hair, but one day decided to replace the water with Apple Cider Vinegar…I haven’t looked back since. I definitly feel I am getting a double cleanse with the great ingredients of Terressentials + Apple Cider Vinegar. Proof that it works comes from complements on how shiny my curls are + how clean my scalp is. Lastly, similar to my facial routine,… Read more »

I have been reading about the uses of ACV for over a month. There are pros and cons on nearly every site I read. The main uses I read about are for hair care, pre-teen acne, and weight loss. I am still uncertain if I should try ACV at all, however I did try diluted mixture on the acne, and she complained that it made her skin itch. Ay help out there, any advice?

My hair is a bit thin and just started using vinegar for thicker hair , does it really work ? what else can you use to make your hair naturally thicker faster ? any good products or natural stuff that could work ? i also heard alvera gel is good to thickening hair , used it twice already , no improvement yet !

I have been using ACV as a hair rinse for several months now. I rinse 1-2 twice a week, I love the results so far. My hair is much shinier, healthier looking! After about a month, I notice that my hair was not breaking as much! Will use for life! This article also has some good info. http://www.intensegrow.com/blog/Apple-Cider-Vinegar-Rinse-for-Hair.htm

Hey Jim. You are correct!! I’ve been drinking Braggs ACV since April. One teaspoon in an 8 ounce cup of water with Agave Nectar for sweetness. My hair has grown. I have lost weight, but most surprising is my eyelashes. That have thickened, darkened and grown in length. My sister asked me more than once why am I always wearing mascara. Hello? I’m not 🙂 (Batting my lusty eyelashes)

I tried ACV rinse tonight for the first time. WoW!!!! This stuff made my hair look and feel the best it ever has since I’ve had natural hair!! My measurements… 1/3 cup ACV to 1 quart water. I actually made 1 cup ACV and 3 Quarts water. After co washing my hair with AS I AM COCONUT CO WASH I rinsed that out and then did the ACV rinse for a final rinse. My hair was so soft, silky and manageable. To do the two strand twist to my scalp I used essential oils to twist to my scalp, coconut… Read more »

Thanks for posting this reply! This is the response that I’ve been looking for. I have decided to try co-washing this weekend, but wondered how the ACV would work n conjunction with it. I also have highlights in my hair. Do you think the diluted ACV may harm my hair?
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Shoe lifts are one of the simplest ways to improve your gait and increase your height instantly. These devices are much better than elevator shoes for several reasons, with discretion being one of the most obvious reasons that you should choose lifts over elevator shoes. There are also several other benefits that you may not know about. Benefits Shoe lifts are small and very discreet. When you wear them with sneakers or loafers no one will know that you have a device in your shoes at all. You can easily increase your height by up to two and half inches… Read more »

I have used vinegar (diluted at about 1/4 cup to a quart) since I was a very little girl. And I am, well, quite a few decades older now! It was my mom’s swear-by. The smell has never been an issue. Goes away quickly. Funny thing, I was just reading some new reports of the dangers of so many shampoo and conditioner ingredients, the FDA has no oversee here, and suggested the vinegar rinse to the mom of my granddaughters. Many of the ingredients in the commercial products are carcinogenic particularly for children.

Interesting. I’ve actually never been able to bring myself to use any “food” ingredients in my hair. Do those of you who use this find it just as easy and quick as using store-bought products – cleansers, shampoos and conditioners? Anything that adds steps and time to my routine is a turnoff for me. Not going to use the excuse of the smell because you ladies have addressed that.

When doing an ACV rinse, I dilute it first similar to what you have mentioned (just I add it to warm water). The smell does not turn me off. My locs are darker and a lighter it would seem, too. But to top it off, my scalp thanks me for it. No itchy or tight scalp beyond a week. I love to feel the warm water on my scalp. Really nice! I have never tried it with an essential oil, so that will be my next step.

I love doing ACV rinses on my hair! For me, they make the difference between a good hair day and a PHENOMENAL hair day, lol. It’s like an ACV rinse makes my hair the best it can be. It makes it shinier, easier to style, softer, bouncier, and really highlights my texture. If I have some sort of special occasion coming up, I always do an ACV rinse the night before. I dilute it a lot, though. Usually, I’ll put 4 tablespoons of ACV in a liter of water…occasionally, I’ll increase it to a quarter of a cup. Never more… Read more »

I’ve been thinking about doing a Vinegar rinse. Sometimes I find that a product I’ve been using stops working as well as it was, and wondered if was just build up. I tried using shampoo, but that just made me super dry. (I don’t normally use shampoo.)

You don’t have to the ACV rinse is pretty much my last rinse (excluding the cool/cold rinse to rid the smell) .
I use more ACV then want is recommended above. I use the ratios of 1:3 or in rare cases 1:2 of ACV to water with great results I follow with Cold water to rinse after ACV and as it dries the smell goes away.

I swear by the Braggs ACV- not sure why it is different, but I have tried others (generic, Heinz, etc), without any luck. Glad someone left a message about the importance of dilution and clarity around what pH means! I would not suggest putting this stuff on your hair un-diluted. I have chronic skin conditions and I use a q-tip to place it carefully on my skin only– not my hair. If I am going to use it on my hair it is diluted or mixed with bentonite clay.

I drink it straight. Usually a teaspoon a day until I can tolerate a tablespoon. Then as time progresses, I step it up to a teaspoon of honey in a shot glass topped off with the ACV. I stir that together and have it in the morning before breakfast. It really helps with digestion, free radicals and appetite control.

Use diluted ACV like the above mention directions. You will love how soft, shiny, bouncy, & just gorgeous your hair will be after following the directions in article. I work out 4-5 days a week & the diluted ACV is perfect for me because shampoo is too drying & the ACV gets rid of sweaty build-up, grime, & doesn’t strip the organic coconut oil I use in my hair. The great thing about using ACV is that it is multi-purpose. You can use it as a sore muscle soak, diet aid, pour it on salad as dressing (much tastier than… Read more »

How is the smell? I mean I’m assuming it goes away after a while, but if I were to use a rinse in the gym shower would I smell like ACV for at least 30 minutes? Or do you add essential oils to lessen the vinegar-y smell?

For me, the smell pretty much goes away immediately. I never notice or am bothered by it and i have a strong nose. Once you apply your leave ins and moisturizers, you should have no smell what so ever.

Don’t do full strength!!!! I didn’t dilute my rinse enough when I used it for the first time today and it made my hair dry. I know this because I deep conditioned for 3 days prior to washing today and my hair was super soft even through the shampooing part of my routine. I’m pissed because I did all of that work just to muck it up at the end. So be warned dilute accordingly.
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Maya, The full strength, undiluted version is only meant for pre-poo, not as a conditioning rinse. I used it full strength, steamed, then did my normal wash/condition/moisturize routine… Worked WONDERS, and I have reeeaaaallly bad dandruff (seborrhea dermatitis).

“Hair is on the mildly acidic side of the pH scale and has an ideal pH of 4.5 to 5.5, which is close to that of an apple cider vinegar rinse (pH 2.9).”

pH is measured on a logarithmic scale, which in general means that a pH of 2.9 is NOT close to pH 4.5. That pH would be a bit too harsh for most people’s scalp, and could damage your hair. ACV must be suitably diluted before use

I was able to ditch shampoo completely by using diluted acv to cleanse my scalp weekly or bi-weekly, depending on my scalp build up. Monthly I use Aztec Indian Clay to cleanse the scalp. I live by ACV! You can also bathe with it, it aids in weight loss, cook with it, etc.

I’d suggest purchasing the bottle with the mother in it; the murky substance in the bottom. That’s the good stuff!